HOW TO GET FROM SAMARKAND TO DUSHANBE, from Uzbekistan to Tajikistan, with PRICES, full guide

♡ Hello! My name is Lianna and welcome to my channel!

This is a video from my trip to Central Asia. I will explain how to get from Samarqand, Uzbekistan to Dushanbe, Tajikistan, and the way back, with all prices. I figured out the way on my own, with the limited information I found online, so I wanted to create this video for travelers to be prepared for the trip and not get scammed. :)

Keep in mind:
I speak Russian, so I could communicate easily and bargain prices. And I am very stubborn when bargaining ;)
You pay only by cash
There is no direct bus

Here is a full guide with tips:
How to get from Samarkand to Dushanbe:
1. Use the Yandex Go taxi app, you can pay by your card (Revolut works fine), and order it from wherever you are, right to the border.
2. There are no issues with passing the border, might wait in line for 10-30 minutes. You cannot film there.
3. Before the Tajikistan border, there is an exchange. The exchange rate is really good (close to the Google one). If you were not able to get TJS in Samarkand, then you must get TJS there for future expenses.
4. On the Tajik border, you need to catch a taxi to Panjakent, they will drop you at the bazaar, and offer to drive you to the bus station for additional cost, if it is not more than 2 TJS per person, then you can agree.
From the border, you can actually take a taxi right to Dushanbe, but I am not sure how much it will cost, if it is not more than 115 TJS (per person), then it is a good deal.
5. We took a local marshrutka from the bazaar to the bus station (2 TJS per person)
6. In the bus station, you will be surrounded by taxi drivers asking you where you are going and offering prices. They all speak at the same time, and there is no personal space, so prepare mentally. Offer your price and start bargaining until someone accepts it. We paid 100 TJS per person.
The road takes approximately 4-6 hours, with a break for food.
7. You will be dropped off at the Bus station that is far away from the city center.
8. We took a local city bus number 3 from the station to the city center. (2,5 TJS per person). You can also take a taxi or pay additionally to your driver.
And that’s it!

Now…

How to get from Dushanbe to Samarkand:
1. The Yandex Go taxi app doesn’t work in Tajikistan. You can catch a taxi on the street, or ask locals what bus goes to the bus station. Taxi drivers have meters, but make sure they have one (ask them). Our driver had it on his phone. (Pretty unusual for me)
2. Once again, you will be surrounded by taxi drivers offering their prices. You need to bargain if you want a lower price. We paid 100 TJS per person. There are bigger cars, and they are waiting until it will be filled. We had to wait over 1,5 hours.
3. When you get to the bazaar in Panjakent, near the pedestrian crossing you will find taxi drivers to the border. The price is usually 10 TJS, but you need to bargain, do not pay more than 15 TJS per person. They also wait to fill in the car (4 people).
4. After crossing the border, even if you have internet, the Yandex Go taxi won’t work in that area, so you need to bargain AGAIN with local taxi drivers. We paid 50,000 UZS per person from the border to Samarkand. And as you guessed already... you wait until the car is full to go… (4 people).

Tip:
If you find a driver that offers you a good price and there is only you and your company, then take their phone number, for the way back :) You can always ask at the hotel/hostel to call that driver. :)

And yes, if you are fancy, you can pay double or for the rest of the seats to go alone, but it is just not my style.

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